Mat 1861.] 



Notes on the Karens. 



57 



His natural astuteness, his plausibility, his accurate knowledge 

 of Karen nature, rendered this task an easy one amidst so super- 

 stitious a race. Before long he collected a considerable force of 

 armed men, and proclaimed himself " The King of the Karens." 

 Whoever submitted himself to him was treated with forbearance ; 

 whoever was not with him was attacked and plundered. Such a 

 state of things could not be permitted to exist, and detachments of 

 troops were sent out against him : the difficulties of the country 

 prevented anything like decisive success, but the Karens learnt 

 enough as to our skill in fire-arms, and did not at all admire our 

 system of coming to close quarters. After two or three brushes 

 therefore, they retired to their own homes ; and Min Loung him- 

 self, finding that the Karens made but indifferent soldiers, enlisted 

 the Shans and Karennees from beyond our frontier. The timid 

 Karens shrank from these unscrupulous men. Like the fable of 

 the frogs and King Stork, they had brought upon themselves a 

 King who was eating into their very vitals ; and for eighteen 

 months murder, robbery and lawless violence in every shape devas- 

 tated the length and breadth of the Yoon-tha-lin. Detachment 

 after detachment went out ; but the success achieved was very 

 trifling. At length in the early part of 1858, Min Loung and his 

 band were expelled from the Yoon-tha-lin by a combined move- 

 ment on one part. An Assistant Commissioner was appointed 

 over the Karens, to regulate their affairs, and under his orders 

 were placed 200 armed Police, for whom stockaded stations were 

 erected in suitable spots. With a strong but conciliating hand 

 order was restored in a few months, and for nearly two years, crime 

 has been unknown in the district, and the Karens have returned to 

 their usual avocations. 



Such is a brief history of the Yoon-tha-lin Karens up to the pre- 

 sent year. 



The impostor styled " Min Loung" fled into Eastern Karennee, 

 where he is now residing with the Chief, having persuaded this 

 latter dignitary, that at his (Min Loung's) death, his spirit will 

 enter the body of the Karennee Chief, who in his turn will be im- 

 mortalized as a u Min Loung." 



We proceed now to describe the peculiar manners and customs 



